Features
Preschool Students Return After Blaze at Franklin
Students returned to Franklin Preschool Wednesday, four days after a suspected arsonist destroyed two classrooms in the school’s north wing.
Nearly all of the three- and four-year olds were redistributed among the school’s other three classrooms and one permanent portable classroom that was not in use, said Jon Santoro, principal of early childhood education.
About 15 of the school’s approximately 125 students, he said, were divvied among the district’s three other preschools. Two special education students were moved to an identical program housed at Rosa Parks Elementary School.
The loss of the two classrooms did not drastically impact class size at the school, Santoro said. The four classrooms in use would house between 24 and 30 students, and the two classrooms destroyed in the fire both held about 25 students.
Santoro is now working on replacing thousands of dollars in lost school supplies and appliances.
Since the two charred classrooms housed all-day classes that provided students with meals and a nap time, Santoro said he will have to replace burnt sleeping mats, sheets, a refrigerator and convection oven, as well as shelves, chairs and desks.
“We’re hoping for donations. Parents and neighbors have already given books and toys,” said Santoro. He has already secured a microwave oven, but would probably have to order new sleeping mats.
The fire was set outside the north wing of the wooden building Saturday at approximately 11:50 a.m. “We’re calling it an arson,” said Fire Department Spokesperson Deputy Chief David Orth. “There was no reason for the fire to have started except for someone lighting it.”
Fire inspectors have not announced a damage toll and it is not known if the north wing of the building can be salvaged. Police are investigating the incident.
Students from the three undamaged classrooms returned Wednesday and were in high spirits, Santoro said. The students from the damaged classrooms returned Thursday and were more melancholy. “Some kids were teary-eyed,” Santoro said, “But so far it’s been OK.”
